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From humble beginnings in small towns to international cricket, Bangladesh’s women’s team has had a storied journey to superstardom

Mohammad Isam17-Jul-2018From humble beginnings in small towns, struggling for several years in international cricket and waiting for proper recognition even on the home front, Bangladesh’s women cricketers have certainly come a long way. In the last two months, they have shown significant improvement by winning the Asia Cup in June and, earlier this week, qualifying for this year’s Women’s World T20.They were unbeaten in the qualifying tournament in the Netherlands, even garnering support from Bangladeshi expatriates who drove hours to attend their matches. New coach Anju Jain, who was appointed only in May, said that while the players reached the playing potential they had developed over the years, it was also important for them to accept the mental challenge of not just being participants but getting over the finish line in the Asia Cup.”It wasn’t a surprise because they had the potential,” Jain said. “The girls are also very hard working. In the team meeting before the Asia Cup, we asked the girls to make their presence felt. It wasn’t just about participating and having potential. They needed to start converting that into performances.”With the goal-setting working in the Asia Cup, Bangladesh have now set a slightly more advanced goal for the World T20 later this year. “Our target [in the World T20] is to ensure that we don’t have to play the qualifiers anymore. The girls are fed up of playing qualifiers,” she said with a confident smile.Salma Khatun, the T20 captain, said that the performance in the World T20 qualifiers was proof that their Asia Cup performance wasn’t a one-off. She said that the shift has come through the batsmen’s confidence in scoring runs.”We fulfilled our target to play in the World T20,” Salma said. “By winning the qualifying tournament after the Asia Cup triumph, we have shown signs of improvement. A lot of our recent improvement is due to the batsmen doing better. Previously, only one batsman would do the scoring while the others struggled. Now we are seeing more batsmen making runs. With a bigger total on the board, our bowlers and fielders are more confident.”Panna Ghosh, who was the Player-of-the-Match in the final for her five-wicket haul, said that experienced players like herself and Salma are going through a new phase with the Bangladesh women’s team. Still, she sticks to some old practices: she said that in the final against Ireland, she tried to follow her lifelong rule of trying to keep the batsmen quiet, which ultimately produced the wickets.”I don’t bowl for a five-wicket haul. If you keep the run-scoring to a minimum, the batsmen are bound to make mistakes, which is what happened in my case. I try to follow what the coaches tell me.”I feel great that our performance has started to improve. It wasn’t like this previously. Salma, Shuktara and I started with the national team right at the beginning. I think all of us feel about this success in the same way,” she said.Panna is a professional in cricket and volleyball, a rarity in modern international cricket. She has been pursuing both careers side-by-side. But it is cricket, which she picked up during childhood while playing alongside her elder brothers in Rajshahi, that takes up most of her time. Volleyball came to her through her job at Bangladesh Ansar, a paramilitary auxiliary force.”Volleyball is the main sport in Ansar, where I am working for the last 10 years,” she said. “I started playing in 2002. I joined Ansar in 2008 and I was with BJMC from 2003 to 2007. I am a smasher in volleyball, but I feel cricket is a tougher sport.”I loved cricket from my childhood. I used to play with my elder brothers in our neighbourhood. One day, when I heard there was a girls’ training camp, I instantly joined it. I learned my basics from that camp.”Panna Ghosh took five wickets to put Bangladesh in the final of the Asian Games•BCBPanna is one of the pioneers of women’s cricket in Bangladesh. Her journey to international cricket has directly or indirectly inspired many of her team-mates, who made similar journeys to Dhaka to learn the nuances of the game.Panna said that her family had always encouraged her to play, but for someone like Fahima Khatun, the legspinner who took Bangladesh’s first hat-trick in T20 internationals during the Women’s World T20 qualifiers against UAE, the start of the journey from her hometown Magura wasn’t always smooth.”It was my elder sister Asma Akhi who used to take me to training,” Fahima said. “She was the one in the family who inspired me to play cricket. My brother and mother wanted me to focus on my studies since I was a science student. They never said cricket was bad, but I guess they felt cricket takes up a lot of time from studies.”One day there was an announcement in our area that there is going to be a women’s cricket tournament. I told my sister and she said I should definitely join training. I never looked back since then.”Fahima’s road to becoming a legspinner began courtesy an astute bit of talent-spotting by a local batsman, who recognised her knack for gripping and turning the ball like a legspinner, though she herself was completely unaware of what legspin is.”I used to play with the boys in our local stadium. I was a slow medium-pace bowler but, one day, someone saw me twirling the ball and asked me to bowl that way. I honestly didn’t know what legspin was at the time, but when he saw me turn the ball, he said I should do it. ‘Have a look at some Shane Warne videos,’ he told me. I liked Shane Warne, but I didn’t know he bowled legspin. That is really how I started bowling legspin. I started bowling legspin in the regional tournaments, and then stuck to it.”Bangladesh women’s progress has been getting long-overdue attention at home and, now, it is finally getting noticed abroad too.Former Australia vice-captain Alex Blackwell said that Bangladesh’s improvement is a mark of progress for women’s cricket as a whole. “To see Bangladesh women improve so massively is great for the women’s game,” Blackwell told ESPNcricinfo. “By the looks of it, a lot is going right there because defeating India twice to become Asia Cup champions is a big feat, and now the Qualifier… It’s great promotion for women in cricket.”

Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be a surprise pick, while Shahid Afridi found a new home and Brendon McCullum was overlooked

Umar Farooq20-Nov-2018If Pakistan’s fourth-innings implosion against New Zealand on Monday was a poor warm-up, the Pakistan Super League 2019 draft lost much of its sheen to the PCB’s case against the BCCI being dismissed by the ICC dispute panel on Tuesday. However, the semblance of attention the draft received, as the glittery ceremony unfolded in Islamabad, came via its most celebrated pick – AB de Villiers – going to Lahore Qalandars, followed by the ‘Sixth Team’, formerly Multan, snapping up the banned Australia batsman Steven Smith.Aside from de Villiers and Smith, the focus was on veterans Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq, as both had been released by their former franchises, making it tough for both players to remain relevant. Although Afridi’s chances of recruitment had been slim in the lead-up to the draft, the Sixth Team bought him in the Platinum category – the highest-paid bracket. Misbah reneged on his agreement with Islamabad United as a mentor to make himself available to be picked up Peshawar Zalmi in the Diamond category.The 36-year-old Ian Bell, who last played for England in 2015, proved to be the most surprising pick, by Islamabad United. A prolific season in county cricket was perhaps one of the factors that clinched the deal for Bell. Although thin on T20 experience in England colours, Bell flourished in the format in the last three years, amassing 1551 runs in 50 matches, at an average of 37.83 and a strike rate of 131. He has also played in the Big Bash with Perth Scorchers. ESPNcricinfo understands that Bell was seen as a like-for-like replacement for JP Duminy, given his ability to accumulate runs in a largely risk-free manner, in a team otherwise replete with power-hitters.Until last night, Lahore Qalandars were faced with a difficult choice between de Villiers and Smith – both red-hot picks of the season. They went with de Villiers, but later in the opening Platinum round, also picked Mohammad Hafeez, who was released by Peshawar Zalmi. They have retained spinner Yasir Shah, who was also part of the side through the last three seasons. They bolstered their legspin contingent with the addition of Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane, in the Gold category.The biggest omission from the top five categories was Pakistan batsman Ahmed Shehzad, who is currently serving his doping ban but is set to return to action later this month. He was classified in the Gold category but was overlooked by all teams, before being relegated to the Silver category, where, too, his fate remain unchanged. However, Quetta Gladiators, who released him for the third season, picked him in the supplement category among four extra players.Abdul Razzaq and Imran Nazir, both on a quest to revive their careers, entered the draft but remain unpicked, as were Umar Gul and Salman Butt. The major miss, however, was former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum. Among the younger lot, 20-year-old Ibtisam Sheikh, a legspinner who was originally released by Pesawar Zalmi, made it back to their squad.

Joe Root’s reliance on his two best seamers demonstrated how England had erred in their selection

George Dobell at Kensington Oval25-Jan-2019At least with batting collapses the pain is over quickly. At least with batting collapses, the dismissed batsman can escape to the dressing room to lick their wounds and nurse their regrets in private.There’s no hiding place for bowlers. No hiding place in the field. So while England’s suffering on the third day might not have been dramatic as their suffering on the second, it was every bit as brutal.Here England’s pain was endless. As the runs and records mounted – never before have England conceded such a large seventh-wicket stand, never had they conceded such a high score to a No. 8 batsman and never had they been hit for eight sixes in an innings by a West Indies player – the holes in the England team and the errors in their selections were laid bare. This was torturous and inexorable.It is understandable in such circumstances that Joe Root should rely on James Anderson and Ben Stokes. They are, by a distance, his most reliable bowlers. So it was not surprising that he turned to them when he needed a wicket, when he needed control and when he didn’t know what else to do.But he has to look after them. And the sight of them starting new spells long after West Indies’ lead passed 500 was worrying. By the time he took his fourth new ball in two-and-a-half days, Anderson was reduced to bowling in the mid-70s mph. And while Stokes’ pace and energy remained high – really, you couldn’t fault either man for their efforts – you wondered at what cost: he is as precious an asset as England possess; it would be a mistake to ask him to carry too onerous a burden.The game, by that stage, was gone and the damage limitation should have been done by the spinners and support bowlers. Instead Anderson bowled 48 overs in the match and Stokes 50.3; only the second time in his career he had bowled 50 in a Test. By the end, they had spent 14-and-a-half hours in the field, broken only by England’s own two-and-a-half hour innings.Perhaps history offers us a lesson here. In the first year or two of the 1980s, Ian Botham – as a swing bowler not so different to Anderson and as an allrounder not so different to Stokes – found himself bowling in a game against Oxford University. He should never have been required to do so but, at some stage during it, he sustained a back injury. Some believe he was never quite the same again.The decision to bowl Anderson and Stokes for long might also have encouraged Holder to bat on. If he could exhaust England’s best bowlers it was not impossible he could rule them out of the rest of the series and he later admitted he saw a chance to “grind them down and keep them out in the heat”.It is, remember, just six days until the start of the second Test. Anderson is 36 and managing a shoulder problem that may well be causing him more pain than he makes out. Stokes, too, has undergone an operation on his left knee and suffers from ongoing back pain. There was no game at stake here; no hope that a magical spell could make the difference.Long before the end of West Indies’ second innings, factory-farmed chickens were getting together and muttering about the appalling conditions in which Anderson and Stokes are expected to work. Asking them to bowl in these conditions is like asking Picasso to pop round and paint your bathroom ceiling; like using a Ferrari to deliver rubble to the dump; like using Pegasus as a pit pony.Ben Stokes endured a frustrating morning•AFPPart of Root’s problem was the performance of his other bowlers. Sam Curran, for all his youthful promise, is not a Test opening bowler at this stage of his career. Perhaps, one day, he may be. But at present he is too reliant on swing and not quite able to compensate with control or other skills. He may well have a role to play in a four-man seam attack but, as one of three, he leaves too much required of his colleagues.The performance of the spinners was more worrying. They should have taken the main bowling workload, but Root didn’t seem to feel he could trust either of them. Moeen Ali’s first over of the day saw Holder thrash him for three successive boundaries, while Adil Rashid struggled with both his length and his pace in conceding nearly seven an over including five sixes. For him to bowl only nine overs in the innings – fewer than Root – is a damning indictment of his performance and the confidence the captain had in him.Rashid didn’t impress in the field, either, with Trevor Bayliss seen slapping his leg in frustration after a misfield gave away a single. It will be a surprise if he plays in Antigua.So it was understandable that Root didn’t trust some of his bowlers much. But he was party to the decision to pick two spinners. And he was party to the decision to prefer the wicket-taking potential of Rashid to the reliability of Jack Leach. He was also party to the decision to pick a left-arm swing bowler instead of a hit-the-deck seamer. In asking Stokes and Anderson to carry so much of the burden, he was tacitly admitting he and the other selectors had erred.There were some encouraging moments for England. Even towards the end, Jos Buttler and Root pulled off fine stops in the field. After every wicketless over, Anderson was applauded back to his position on the boundary by spectators who recognised his hard work. And despite his own disappointments, Curran made some diving stops on the boundary to save a run or two. There’s no faulting the spirit or the efforts. The opening batsmen started well, too. The weekend brings them opportunity.And there, perhaps, is the mitigation for England. For this pitch that looked so troublesome when 18 wickets fell on day two, suddenly appeared becalmed. Local knowledge suggests it may remain becalmed for much of day four, too, though some deterioration is likely on day five. It will be interesting to see if West Indies bowlers – faster or taller though most of them are – will be able to coax any more life out of it.But days like this expose holes. And West Indies have found a few in this England side.

Rasikh Salam’s two-year ban has brought age-fudging back into the spotlight. What steps has the BCCI taken to combat it, and why is it so difficult to eradicate?

Shashank Kishore29-Jun-2019Even seen a 17-year-old bowl fast or hit monstrous sixes and wondered if he was “at least 20-21”? If you felt the same watching Rasikh Salam, the Jammu & Kashmir fast bowler who played for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2019, your worst fears are true.Documents have proved Rasikh is two years older than he claims to be. This became public after a BCCI investigation pointed to a mismatch between two “original birth certificates” obtained from different sources. There were also discrepancies between these and his school-leaving certificate.Rasikh has now been banned for two years from all cricket under the BCCI. That, by extension, means no IPL or even exposure to corporate cricket – he was to train at Reliance’s own training facility in Navi Mumbai as part of a scholarship programme, and be fielded in the city’s robust corporate and league system. He has also been withdrawn from the India Under-19 squad that is to tour England. A promising career has come to a grinding halt.Can’t he undergo an age test to prove his innocence?The emphatic answer is “no.” Since 2012, the BCCI has been using the Tanner Whitehouse 3 method that determines the age of a child based on the growth of the bones in the wrist. This test, however, is accurate only up to the age of 16, since the “long bones in the body fuse,” according to Dr. Abhijit Salvi, BCCI’s age test and anti-doping consultant. “As such, the tests can’t ascertain the specific age. But there have been cases where a player’s documents prove he is below 16, but his bone maturity indicates otherwise.”The BCCI and the state associations are bound by a legal agreement that prevents them from fielding players deemed ‘overage’ by these tests. Because the physical abilities of those with bone maturity far greater than many others could provide them with unfair advantage. Therefore, even though their age verification may be authentic, they may have to miss out. But this crops up only at the Under-16 level.” In this case, since Rasikh’s documents already prove he is 19, the test is ruled out.Manjot Kalra steered India to World Cup glory with an unbeaten century•AFPWhat are the BCCI’s challenges during this verification process?Verifying those players who directly come into the system at the Under-19 or Under-23 level can be tricky, although such cases are rare. For date of birth, the BCCI’s primary documents for verification are the birth certificate, hospital birth records and school mark sheets. Passport and passing certificates of Class X and Class XII are additional supporting documents.This method, however, has proven to be a challenge especially because there have been cases of players from rural areas being unable to furnish documents such as school-leaving certificates because they haven’t undergone formal schooling. Hand-written panchayat birth certificates haven’t been easy to verify either. As a first step, from the upcoming season, the BCCI will accept only digitalised certificates issued by Birth & Death Registry.Is there scope for tampering at the state level?Yes, this was a challenge until a few years ago, when the BCCI depended on the hospital chain it had tied up with to conduct document verification. However, over the last four years, the board has appointed independent medical practitioners who aren’t connected in any capacity with state associations to conduct this process of age verification.”The officer first conducts the ID verification and the players are sent for bone testing only if these documents are authentic,” explains Dr. Salvi. “The local hospitals only do a digital X-ray of the player’s hand and wrist and email the image with the player’s headshot, name, etc directly to BCCI’s Age Verification Department and the TW3 bone age rating is done by Radiologists on the BCCI’s panel. This has helped bypass potential cases of tampering of documents at the state level.”Nitish Rana goes up, and over•BCCIHas the issue been spoken about widely by respected voices?It was in the headlines in 2016 when Rahul Dravid, the current India A and India Under-19 head coach, said in his MAK Pataudi Lecture that the “scourge of overage players in junior cricket” was no different to “fixing and corruption.” As a first step, Dravid put in place a process with the BCCI to limit players to appearing at an Under-19 World Cup only once, even if they were eligible to play a second tournament.”Like the issue of bowling actions, it is a similar emphasis on short-term results that has led to the scourge of overage players in junior matches,” Dravid said at the lecture. “That entire exercise begins when a coach alters a player’s date of birth so that he can take part in a local tournament. The parents are happy to accept the value of an extra year or two, particularly in junior cricket and, academically, at middle school.”The truth is that the player who has faked his age might make it at the junior level not necessarily because he is better or more talented, but because he is stronger and bigger. We all know how much of a difference a couple of years can make at that age. That incident will have another ripple effect: an honest player deprived of his place by an overage player, is disillusioned. We run the risk of losing him forever.”A former BCCI match referee, who retired in 2014, remembered how a number of associations in the north moaned about their inability to field overage players upon learning of his appointment to oversee games. Having been away from the system, he now hopes the new methods the BCCI has adopted will not only help prevent rampant age-fudging but also set an example for the nine new state associations.How have state associations dealt with the issue?Overage for Under-23? No problem, play state cricket without any reprimand. This in a nutshell has been the attitude of a number of state associations where discrepancies in documents have cropped up. A seasoned coach in the domestic circuit believes the BCCI needs to introduce retrospective action for players tampering with their documents.Manjot Kalra, who struck a match-winning century in the Under-19 World Cup final last year, is in the dock for providing an incorrect date of birth. In 2017, he was cleared by the BCCI but was hauled up by the Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA) after disgruntled parents of fellow Under-19 cricketers in Delhi alleged that Kalra had provided false information. An investigation by the Delhi police has revealed Kalra is a year older than furnished, which made him ineligible to participate in the Under-19 World Cup.Ankit Bawne goes for the sweep•ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the same year, Nitish Rana was among 22 cricketers barred by the BCCI for representing Delhi in age-group tournaments after discrepancies were discovered in their dates of birth. Rana, already an established member of Delhi’s senior team, is yet to incur any reprimand or fine, since the BCCI is seeking a legal opinion to ascertain if the complainant has to be the board or the state association. The case is ongoing.In September 2011, Ankit Bawne was removed from the India Under-19 squad after the date of birth in his passport didn’t match the one in his birth certificate and the BCCI’s records. Bawne protested that the agent who arranged for his passport had messed up the date. The selectors, not wanting to take a risk, left him out and Unmukt Chand took over the captaincy.So what can the BCCI do to counter this?Bishan Bedi, the former India captain, says cases like those of Kalra and Rana have “destroyed the fabric of the game.””The onus is squarely on the BCCI,” Bedi says. “They must put a stop to this. You can’t turn a blind eye to this problem, which has always been there at least in Delhi. As the parent body, it’s the BCCI’s responsibility. It’s short-sightedness. There is no honesty or integrity anywhere. It’s not what cricket stands for. BCCI must – they must – take cognizance of the situation.”Bedi believes doing away with the Under-23 tournament, the CK Nayudu Trophy, will be a good first step. This, he feels, gives cricketers a second line of opportunity should they not make the senior state side. “Why do we need Under-23 cricket now?” Bedi asks. “If at 23 you can’t play first-class cricket, then you’re not good enough. Why do you need to play age-group cricket at 23?”With the new season imminent, the board’s steps for age-verification are laudable, but given that the number of registered players in India is significantly higher compared to Australia or England, the BCCI is challenged by a number of factors. Unlike in most developed countries where births are documented immediately and leave little scope for tampering, there are several cases in rural India where a foolproof system doesn’t exist.While there isn’t yet a full-fledged programme to rehabilitate players banned for age fraud, the BCCI is beginning to help out those seeking counselling to prevent many such cases going forward. It is also looking to spread the message that age-fudging, a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code, can ruin careers, Rasikh’s being an example.

What were the factors that led him to pip Mike Hesson, Tom Moody and the other contenders?

Nagraj Gollapudi16-Aug-2019After interviewing five candidates on Friday and rating them on five different parameters – coaching philosophy, experience, achievements, communication, and knowledge of modern coaching tools – the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) chose to continue with Ravi Shastri as India head coach. Mike Hesson and Tom Moody finished second and third based on these ratings, CAC head Kapil Dev said.Here is a break-down of the process that led to Shastri’s reinstatement.Who devised the rating system?The BCCI originally devised the rating methodology while picking the head coach of the India women’s team late last year. The five parameters were arrived at after seeking suggestions from the current CAC, which slightly tweaked the original set of suggestions. WV Raman was appointed as the Indian women coach using the same parameters that were later applied for the men’s coach selection process.In what order did the candidates appear?The interview process began in the morning with Robin Singh, the former India allrounder, followed by former Mumbai captain Lalchand Rajput, who briefly served as India’s cricket manager, and won the inaugural World T20 and their first-ever tri-series triumph in Australia a decade ago. Former Australia allrounder Moody was the third on the list and attended the interview via video-conference. Former New Zealand coach Hesson attended his interview in person, in the afternoon, while Shastri was the last to speak to the CAC, via video conference from the Caribbean, where he is on tour with the India team.Anshuman Gaekwad, Kapil Dev and Shantha Rangaswamy after a CAC meeting•Annesha Ghosh/ESPNcricinfoWhere exactly did Shastri pip the others?International experience, track record, and his plan for the way forward were the key areas that Shastri topped the scores in. ESPNcricinfo understands that Shastri began the interview speaking for around 20 minutes, explaining what the India team was like back when he took charge in 2017, when he replaced Anil Kumble, and went on to list India’s achievements under his watch, before going to what plans he had for the team going forward. Shastri, according to a CAC member, was precise, specific and clear.Shastri’s new stint will involve two T20 World Cups, to be played in successive years – next year in Australia and then in India in 2021. In his first stint (as team director), India reached the semi-finals in 2016. Shastri has no T20 franchise coaching experience, unlike Hesson, Moody and Robin, who all have been involved in coaching roles in domestic T20 tournaments for several years.However, with the inaugural World Test Championship having just commenced, and the ODI League to begin in May 2020, the CAC was keen on a coach who could handle the team across all three formats. Shastri is understood to have outscored his competitors in this regard.The CAC was impressed by the presentations of Hesson, Moody and even Robin, but felt none of the three had coached an international team recently, and were more involved in T20 leagues across the world.R Ashwin and Mike Hesson fine tune the team’s plans•BCCISo was Shastri’s appointment straightforward?The CAC member disagreed. The person said tough questions were asked of Shastri, including why India could not win a few tough series or any world tournaments under his watch. Shastri is understood to have provided the break-up of the results, and in which areas the team came second, and what solutions he had in mind.One of the members is believed to have asked what sort of a say Shastri had had in the India dressing room, given the widespread perception that Virat Kohli, the captain, leads the ship. Incidentally, Shastri himself had said the captain leads the ship when he took over as head coach in 2017. Shastri told the CAC that he would invite its members to the dressing room to observe the atmosphere. He stressed that wherever required he, as head coach, speaks out and discusses issues with everyone, and not just the captain.Will Shastri have a say in the appointment of his support staff?As per the new BCCI constitution, the selection panel will shortlist the candidates. It is understood that the head coach could be consulted before finalising the three assistant coaches – batting, bowling and fielding.

And was Ireland’s 38 at Lord’s the lowest score in the fourth innings of any Test?

Steven Lynch29-Jul-2019Both wicketkeepers failed to score in either innings in the recent Test at Lord’s. Has this ever happened before? asked Sandy Whitlock from England
The fate of both wicketkeepers – Jonny Bairstow for England and Gary Wilson for Ireland – in bagging pairs in the action-packed match at Lord’s last week was a first in Test cricket.The previous low for wicketkeepers in a Test in which they both batted twice was two runs, in a match in Kanpur in 1959-60: Naren Tamhane scored 1 and 0 for India, and Barry Jarman 1 and 0 for Australia. The keepers contributed three runs in Port-of-Spain in 2001-02: Junior Murray made 0 and 1 for West Indies, and Ajay Ratra 0 and 2 for India.England won their Test against Ireland despite making only 85 runs in their first innings. Have there been any lower first-innings totals that brought victory? asked Chris Mitchell from England
Ignoring the match in Centurion in 1999-2000, when England declared their first innings before it started and went on to win after South Africa forfeited their second innings, there have been just six lower first-innings totals than England’s 85 against Ireland at Lord’s last week that led to victory in a Test, only four of them in the opening innings of the match. Lowest of all is England’s 45 in Sydney in 1886-87, when they bowled Australia out for 97 in the final innings to win by 13 runs.Twenty wickets fell on the first day at Lord’s – was this a record for the Home of Cricket? asked Savo Ceprnich from South Africa
Twenty wickets is indeed the most for the first day of a Lord’s Test: 18 fell on the first day there in 1896, when England bowled Australia out for 53 and then amassed 286 for 8. Lord’s also holds the overall record for wickets in a day’s play: no fewer than 27 toppled on a rain-affected pitch on the second day of the match between England and Australia in 1888. England went from 18 for 3 to 53 all out, Australia made 60, then England were skittled for 62 to lose by 61 runs.Was Ireland’s 38 at Lord’s the lowest score in the fourth innings of any Test? asked Jamie Stewart from Canada
Ireland’s 38 at Lord’s last week has been beaten – if that’s the right word – twice before in the fourth innings, both times by South Africa early on in their time as a Test nation, against England. Needing 319 in Port Elizabeth in 1895-96, they were shot out for 30 (George Lohmann took 8 for 7). Then, in Cape Town in 1898-99, needing 246, they were demolished for 35.Mike Atherton’s 553 runs – without a hundred – in the 1993 Ashes included his memorable run-out on 99, when he slipped and fell on the pitch.•PA PhotosTo answer one final question about Ireland’s 38, it was the lowest completed innings known to have included a six (by Mark Adair). The previous-lowest appears to be India’s 42 against England in 1974 at Lord’s – the previous-lowest Test total there – which included a six by Eknath Solkar. There are many innings for which we don’t have full ball-by-ball details, although not many of them ended in a total of less than 38.Who has scored the most runs in a Test series without making a century? asked Leo McGuinn from Ireland
This record is held by England’s Mike Atherton, who made 553 runs in the 1993 Ashes series without making a century – he was memorably run out for 99 at Lord’s after he slipped over on the pitch. That was one of six scores of 50 or more he made in that six-match rubber. The record for a five-match series is 550, by another stylish opener – West Indies’ Conrad Hunte, against Australia in 1964-65. He also made six half-centuries, with a highest score of 89.And here’s an update to last week’s answer about Super Overs that ended in a tie:
A number of readers have pointed out that there have been other matches that were decided on boundary countback, apart from the 2019 World Cup final at Lord’s, and the IPL game in Abu Dhabi in 2014 so expertly described by Steve Smith last week.The first time two teams were separated in this way was in Bridgetown in July 2010, when Barbados beat Combined Campuses and Colleges after ties in the match and Super Over. It happened again in a Champions League T20 match in Jaipur in September 2013, when New Zealand’s Otago Volts beat the Lions from South Africa.There have also been two similar results in the Women’s Big Bash in Australia: in Sydney in January 2017, Sydney Thunder beat local rivals Sydney Sixers, while in another derby match, in Melbourne in January 2018, Melbourne Stars beat Melbourne Renegades.The Super Over replaced a bowl-out in the event of a tie in a World Cup knockout match in 2011, and since then the boundary count has always been the first tie-breaker, in line with most domestic T20 competitions.I’m sorry for missing these last week – I had asked a colleague if there were any others, as I couldn’t think of any, and took their silence to mean I was right. Just shows you should never rely on your recollections in cricket!Use our feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Ever since a thumb injury in the World Cup, Dhawan has been forced out of action at inopportune times

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2020June 2019: The World Cup exitInjured his: Left thumb while batting
Out of action for: Two months
Replaced by: Rishabh Pant
For long, Dhawan has lorded over ICC tournaments, from the Under-19 World Cup and the Champions Trophy to the ODI World Cup. And as he cracked a match-winning hundred in India’s league fixture against Australia, all signs pointed to another encore.However, he took a hit on his left thumb off a Pat Cummins delivery, which resulted in a hairline fracture. India waited on his recovery for a while before naming Rishabh Pant as his replacement. He recovered in time for India’s tour of the West Indies in August 2019.ESPNcricinfo LtdNov 2019: The freak knee injuryInjured his: Left knee while diving to make his ground
Out of action for: One month
Replaced by: Sanju Samson (T20Is), Mayank Agarwal (ODIs)
Dhawan was batting in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Delhi against Maharashtra, when his desperate full-length dive to make his ground led to a “deep cut on his left knee”. Following a consistent run in the limited-overs sides after the World Cup, this injury ruled him out of contention for the limited-overs series against West Indies.

We Fall, We Break, but then…. We Rise. We heal and we overcome, and the only thing you have control over is how you respond to any situation. Here's to being positive and happy in every situation that life throws at you. Will be back in action in 4-5 dayspic.twitter.com/0XDHRXMSeP

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) November 21, 2019

Jan 2020: The rib-shoulder double whammyInjured his: Left shoulder while diving on the field
Out of: India’s T20Is and ODIs in New Zealand
Replaced by: Sanju Samson (T20Is), Prithvi Shaw (ODIs)
Another ODI against Australia, another Dhawan injury en route to a century. It was Cummins again, bruising his rib cage and forcing the batsman not to take the field that evening. Dhawan was back for the decider though, in Bengaluru, where more misfortune awaited him.In just the fifth over of the first innings, he fell on his left shoulder while diving to make a stop at cover point, and got up clutching it. By the end of the innings, his shoulder was in a sling and any further part in the game looked bleak. As it has turned out, the injury has ruled him out for at least a few weeks, long enough to miss five T20Is against New Zealand in New Zealand.

Everton are close to embarking on their new era at Bramley Moore Dock and David Moyes has now told the club that he has a new top target in his sights this summer, per reports.

Everton look to make a summer window statement

The Friedkin Group’s arrival coupled with Goodison Park’s upcoming emotional farewell has created a mixture of excitement and reflection among Everton supporters heading into next season.

Above all, their loyal fanbase feel a sense of relief that their club is finally on the up after years in the doldrums on and off the pitch. Financial struggles and relegation battles have threatened their Premier League safety, but there is hope those circumstances could now be a thing of the past.

David Moyes has decisions to make while rebuilding his squad and won’t have an infinite sum of money to plough into reinforcements, though it is expected that a healthy chunk will be available to invest in fresh blood.

Taking matters into his own hands, Everton have positioned themselves to sign Albert Gudmundsson once his loan spell at Fiorentina comes to an end and the Iceland international may be available for £20 million.

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Benfica’s Vangelis Pavlidis is another candidate to strengthen the Toffees’ forward line, albeit he may cost a pretty penny due to retaining an £80 million release clause.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin looks sure to exit the club this summer and it would be a surprise if Armando Broja were to be retained, leaving a void for one or two prolific marksmen to enter the fold during the beginning of a new era.

Now, Moyes has identified his preferred choice to lead the line and is plotting a potential double swoop that will have supporters on the edge of their seat.

Everton want "superstar" to join Liam Delap under Moyes

According to reports, Everton want Evan Ferguson and Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap to come in as a two-part solution to bolster their slim options in attack, with the gaffer personally demanding the signings from the club’s board.

Referencing the former, Moyes has put Ferguson to the club as his top target and there is scope that he could be available for significantly less than his reported £45 million valuation.

Evan Ferguson vs Liam Delap – Premier League 2024/25 statistics

Evan Ferguson

Goals

1

Assists

0

Shots on target

3

Chances created

5

Aerial duels won

9

Liam Delap

Goals

12

Assists

2

Shots on target

30

Chances created

24

Aerial duels won

53

Evidently, both have endured contrasting fortunes this campaign, but Ferguson’s early promise has saw him net 17 goals in 80 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion, bursting onto the scene with some exemplary performances.

Labelled a “superstar” by Micah Richards, his spell on loan at West Ham United hasn’t worked out, but Moyes clearly holds optimism that he can get the Irishman back firing after his struggles with form and injury.

Everton want Ferguson in addition to Delap, which would be a mouthwatering prospect for supporters as the club move towards a new era.

Often when it comes to Leeds United and promotion races, the Whites let their nerves get the better of them.

However, with only one game remaining of the current Championship season, the West Yorkshire outfit are already Premier League bound away from any worries seeping in.

Daniel Farke’s side looked every bit ready for the challenge ahead when brushing aside playoff-chasing Bristol City effortlessly in a huge 4-0 win on Monday night.

There was a carnival-like atmosphere in the air at Elland Road throughout, with no hangovers in sight from the home side’s perspective after sealing promotion.

Leeds' best performers vs Bristol City

Leeds might have been anticipating a trickier tie in truth, considering Liam Manning’s Robins aren’t mathematically safe inside the top six positions.

But, from the get-go, the clash felt like a walk in the park for the hosts, with Ao Tanaka’s calm and collected finish from a floating Manor Solomon ball opening the scoring in the 21st minute.

Solomon – away from assisting Tanaka to break the deadlock – really stood out himself during the one-sided contest, with the electric Tottenham Hotspur loanee amassing two successful dribbles and four shots of his own to try and catch out the sheepish visitors from Bristol even more.

Both Wilfried Gnonto and Largie Ramazani would shine too as the other goal scorers on the night, with Ramazani only needing nine minutes of action to bag a brace, whilst both Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu would accumulate a ridiculous 291 accurate passes between them in the heart of the Leeds defence.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Of course, alongside the aforementioned Welsh pairing, there was also the influential figure of Junior Firpo pulling the strings once more from defence, with his assist for Ramazani’s first of the clash taking his assist haul to the season up to a mighty ten.

Regardless of his standout showings this season, according to reports, it looks unlikely that the ex-Barcelona man will be kept around for the forthcoming challenge of the Premier League.

However, there is another face in Farke’s starting XI who may succumb to the same fate as the left-back over the summer.

7/10 Leeds star needs an upgrade

Tough conversations will have to take place at Leeds this coming off-season involving who is cut out for the intense jump up to the top-flight, with Farke’s neck already allegedly on the line in this regard.

Brenden Aaronson will also be worrying slightly about his long-term future in West Yorkshire, considering the American has previously floundered at the elite level.

Indeed, last time he was plunged into the choppy waters of the Premier League, Aaronson would only manage to pick up one goal and three assists from 36 outings, culminating in the Whites falling back into the reaches of the Championship.

Now, the ex-Red Salzburg attacker will have a point to prove. But, based on his somewhat wasteful approach against the leaky Robins and his topsy-turvy form this season, he might not be Farke’s preferred choice of number 10 in the far tougher division.

Minutes played

86

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

50

Accurate passes

28/33 (85%)

Key passes

2

Shots

3

Big chances missed

1

It must be said, this was not Aaronson’s worst night of the campaign, far from it. The £45k-per-week attacking midfielder did manage to link up nicely with Solomon and Co at points as another vibrant option up top, but another goal or assist to add to his season collection of 11 from 45-second tier clashes annoyingly evaded him.

Whilst the likes of Solomon and Tanaka wouldn’t look out of place in the top-flight, Aaronson could well find he’s pushed back into the deep-end once more, with Yorkshire Post journalist Tom Coates even labelling his night as “frustrating” despite his 7/10 rating. It was a night of mixed reviews for the American, which rather sums up his time at Leeds, with the Athletic’s Larry Henry suggesting it was a “really positive display”.

Evidently, an upgrade will be required in the Premier League and it might well be that the likes of Firpo, Farke and Aaronson have all just enjoyed their last nights under the Elland Road lights.

Before any more talk centres on whether the inconsistent 24-year-old could be let go of, Leeds still have the chance to clinch the Championship title on the final day of the season, with Plymouth the location for the Whites’ potential triumph.

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Burnley are preparing for their return to the Premier League next season and could now enlist Vincent Kompany’s support in their pursuit of an exciting signing.

Burnley look ahead to Premier League return

Scott Parker has emerged as something of a promotion specialist since stepping into the dugout, and he has repeated the trick with the Clarets in some style this term. Following another exciting Championship campaign filled with drama, Burnley have a chance to claim the league crown against Millwall on Saturday lunchtime before preparing for life back in the Premier League.

With the gap between England’s first and second tiers growing year-on-year, Turf Moor chiefs will have their work cut out in seeking reinforcements to give them a fighting chance of staying up in 2025/26.

Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a target for Burnley after being told he is free to leave Stamford Bridge after one season, which may be the sort of signing Parker is after to give his side a genuine shot at survival. Harrison Reed could also be on his way to the Clarets if Fulham are willing to cut a deal this summer, adding some experience to an engine room that is already bristling with talent.

Ipswich now pursue new deal for £27,500-a-week star amid Burnley interest

Burnley and Leeds are once again going head-to-head but this time off the pitch.

ByBrett Worthington Apr 24, 2025

Bridging the gap won’t be an easy endeavour for Burnley. The Premier League is notoriously demanding at the best of times, but they have shown an ability in years gone by to mix it with the best.

Now, the newly-promoted outfit have set their sights on an international goalkeeper who could be on his way out of one of Europe’s most reputable clubs, per recent developments.

Burnley looking to sign Bayern Munich's Daniel Peretz

According to Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Burnley have initiated talks over signing Bayern Munich goalkeeper Daniel Peretz after making ‘specific enquiries’ through former boss Kompany regarding his availability. Hamburg are also keen on the Israel international, who is set to leave the Allianz Arena either permanently with a buyback clause or on loan over the next few months.

Commended for his “great potential” by Jan-Christian Dreesen, Peretz has made seven appearances for Bayern in total since joining from Maccabi Tel Aviv, keeping a solitary clean sheet. Despite being behind Manuel Neuer in the pecking order, the 24-year-old has made ten saves on Bundesliga duty this term, equating to a percentage rate of 66.7%.

Burnley will need to recruit stars with pedigree this summer and Peretz’ background at one of the world’s elite clubs could be an appealing factor as they look forward to life back in the Premier League.